She was saying how you gotta get paid for your art.
You gotta take a stand.
I nodded, excited by her words, by her enthusiasm and integrity.
Artistic integrity is easy to maintain on Sixth Street.
I wondered, though, if it would pass the sniff test.

“Standing up for your worth is totally laudable,” I said, “If you insist on being paid to read poetry, though, then if they pay you, you won’t get to read poetry.
“Me, I don’t know if I can live with that consequence.”
“You make a good point,” she replied, “but if you don’t take the stand, you’ll never get paid. I happen to be earning a living through poetry now.”

“Shit,” I said.
“I know.”

You take a risk, you live with the consequences, I guess.
Just like she did.
You gotta get paid for your art.